EU to apply diplomatic salve in Georgia

Euronews

Heading to Georgia to breathe life into flagging relations with Russia, a group of European Union foreign ministers will fly east in a couple of days. Easing tension over the breakaway region of Abkhazia is linked with Europe’s wish to finally launch talks on a new cooperation pact with Moscow. A source in Slovenia’s EU presidency said the Slovenian, Swedish, Polish and Lithuanian foreign ministers were expected to go to Georgia.
The EU and NATO said last week that Russia had fuelled tensions by deploying extra troops in the Black Sea coastal territory… Abkhazia broke away from Tbilisi in a war after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said the visit would be aimed at establishing how dramatic the developments really are, and averting any escalation. Georgian authorities say war has been only narrowly averted in recent days. Abkhazian authorities have reported shooting down several Georgian “spy” drones. Georgia denies this. Adding to strain between the West and Russia are moves by Georgia’s pro-Western leadership to join the NATO alliance.